Bed Covering System

ABSTRACT

A bed covering system includes a top cover having a top surface, a bottom surface, right, left, top and bottom edges, and at least one fold on at least part of the bottom surface; a bottom cover having a top surface, a bottom surface, right, left, top and bottom edges, and at least one fold on at least part of the top surface; and a concealed fastening means having a first fastener part and a second fastener part, wherein the first and second fastener parts are attached to and enclosed in the at least one fold of the top and bottom covers, respectively. The top and bottom covers are detachably connected by the first and second fastener parts. A bed covering system also includes a plurality of covers and a plurality of fastening means. Teaching methods using the bed covering systems are included.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/721,063, filed Nov. 1, 2012, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A general procedure for making a bed involves covering, a mattress with a bottom sheet, which is often “fitted” to the mattress using elasticized pockets on the sheet comers, followed by laying a top sheet over the fitted sheet. The procedure for stabilizing the top sheet usually involves tucking it in at the foot and bottom of the mattress sides which may include folding the bottom edges of the top sheet into “hospital corners”. Additional bedding layers for appearance and warmth, such as comforters, blankets and quilts may also be added to complete a bedding ensemble. The bed making procedure may also include using coverings for the bed pillow, wherein the pillow may be enclosed in a pillow case, which is then covered with another decorative and/or protective covering such as a pillow sham.

During use, the top covers of the bedding ensemble, such as decorative covers, blankets, and pillow shams, may be pushed back or removed from the other parts of the bedding covering set. Also, the various layers of the bedding ensemble may become misaligned during the night. All of these covers have to be neatly put back into place each morning for a tidy bed covering, appearance, a process which is time consuming, and may sometimes be difficult for young children, or even some adults to do well.

Certain of the bed covers, such as comforters, blankets, and pillow shams may be laundered less frequently than the other parts such as the sheets and pillow cases. While, it may be more economical, efficient and practical that all of the bed coverings are separately launderable, and therefore, not attached to each other, a typical bedding covering ensemble may require disassembly of the entire bedding set to reach the more frequently laundered portions. Thus, in addition to the daily chore of making the bed, laundering the bed coverings also adds the time consuming and tedious process of putting, the bedding ensemble back into place.

A bed cover assembly for a mattress is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,794, 285, which includes elastic attachment sections along a perimeter portion of a top sheet for interconnecting a top sheet and a bottom sheet together. U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,266 discloses a bedding ensemble including a flat sheet coupled to a right side, left side and a lower end of the fitted sheet portion. A comforter portion couples to a lower end, a right side and a left side of the flat sheet portion.

In view of the cited examples, there is still a need for a simple and easy to use bed covering system that meets the needs of busy adults and housekeepers as well as one that is useful for teaching young children how to make their beds.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various aspects and embodiments described herein provide bed covering systems according to the present invention. According to one aspect, the invention is a bed covering system comprising:

-   -   a top cover having a top surface, a bottom surface, right, left,         top and bottom edges, and at least one fold on at least part of         the bottom surface;     -   a bottom cover having a top surface, a bottom surface, right,         left, top and bottom edges, and at least one field on at least         part of the top surface; and     -   a concealed fastening means comprising a first fastener part and         a second fastener part wherein the first fastener part is         attached to, and enclosed in, the at least one fold of the top         cover, the second fastener part is attached to, and enclosed in,         the at least one fold of the bottom cover, and the first and         second fastener part detachably connect the top cover to the         bottom cover.

Provided in accordance with another aspect of the present invention is a bed covering system comprising:

a plurality of covers and a plurality of fastening means interconnecting the plurality of covers , wherein each one of the plurality of fastening means are separable into two complementary fastening means halves, and the plurality of covers comprises:

-   -   (a) a top cover having a top surface, a bottom surface, right,         left, top, and bottom edges, one or more folds on at least part         of the top cover bottom surface, and at least one complementary         fastening means half attached to, and enclosed in, the one or         more folds ;     -   (b) one or mare middle covers having a top surface, a bottom         surface, right, left, top, and bottom edges, one or more folds         on a least part of the top surface, one or more folds on at         least part of the bottom surface, at least one complementary         fastening means half attached to and enclosed in the one or more         folds on the top surface and at least one complementary         fastening means half attached to, and enclosed in, the one or         more folds on the bottom surface;     -   (c) a bottom cover having a top surface, a bottom surface,         right, left, top, and bottom edges, one or more folds on at         least pan of the bottom cover top surface, and, and at least one         complementary fastening means half attached to, and enclosed in,         the one or more folds.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood and more readily apparent when considered in conjunction with the following detailed description which illustrates, by way of example, embodiments of bed covering systems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

The present invention is a bed covering system useful for busy individuals, families, housekeeping professionals, and anyone else who wishes to maintain a neat bed covering appearance, while at the same time lessening the amount of time and trouble otherwise connected with maintaining the tidiness and cleanliness of the bed covering. In one aspect, the bed covering system comprises:

-   -   a top cover having a top surface, a bottom surface, right, left,         top and bottom edges, and at least one fold on at least part of         the bottom surface;     -   a bottom cover having a top surface, a bottom surface, right,         left, top and bottom edges, and at least one fold on at least         part of the bottom cover top surface; and     -   a concealed fastening means comprising a first fastener part and         a second fastener part wherein the first fastener part is         attached to, and enclosed in, the at least one fold of the top         cover, the second fastener part is attached to, and enclosed in,         the at least one fold of the bottom cover, and the first and         second fastener part detachably connect the top cover to the         bottom cover.

In one embodiment, the top cover is a comforter and the bottom cover is a flat sheet. In yet another embodiment, the top cover may be any cover desired to be place at the top of a bedding system including a quilt, blanket or sleeping bag. Alternatively, the bed covering system comprises a comforter, quilt, blanket, sleeping bag, and the like as the bottom cover, and another top cover is removably fastened to the top surface of the bottom cover.

In certain embodiments, the top and bottom covers are dimensioned to fit a bed mattress, wherein typical types of bed mattresses are twin, full, queen, and king sizes. in certain other embodiments, the bed covering system includes a pillow covering system, wherein the top cover is a pillow sham and the bottom cover is a pillow case.

The fastening means of the present invention include, in one embodiment, one or more button holes so dimensioned as to receive one or more buttons. The button is a first fastener part, and the button hole is a second fastener part which has dimensions suitable for the button with which it is intended to mate. In other embodiments, the fastening means include any type of fastener that would be suitable for attachment to bedding fabric such as snaps, ties, zippers, hooks and eyes, hook and loop (such as Velcro®). The fastening means are separable into two complementary fastening means halves, such as a button and button hole half, a hook and an eye half, a hook and a loop half, and so forth. Each half of the fastening means is concealed within a fold on a cover of the bedding system. When two covers are connected by complementary fastening means halves, the fold may be configured to cover and conceal the fastening means.

It is desirable that the folds for the bed coverings are integrated into the bed covering such that they do not detract from the appearance or interfere with the functioning of the fastening means. It is also important that the fastening means be easily accessible and easy to use so as not to add difficulty to the bed making process. In some cases, a fold may be attached to the corner of a bed covering. In this case, attachment of the fold to the bed covering may include mitred corners to remove excess fabric providing an even corner transition without a lump in the fabric.

As will be appreciated by one having skill in the art, other modifications and variations to the type of top and bottom coverings and type, location and number of fasteners and folds to conceal the fasteners would fall within the scope of the invention

The bedding system herein described has the advantage of providing a simple and convenient method for making a bed. In the example of a comforter attached to a flat sheet, one can just close the bed in the morning by pulling up the comforter attached to the sheet and the bed will look made. Furthermore, because of the design of this invention, a quick flip of the pillow with sham attached will put the sham pattern side up, such that the bed is fully made. Another convenient feature is that the covers may be easily disconnected to launder the covers separately. For example, in exemplary bedding covering systems according to this invention, sheets and pillow cases may be washed at regular intervals without having to wash the comforter, blanket, etc. or pillow sham each time. Also, because the fasteners are concealed within one or more folds on the covers, it is possible to use other covers with the invention covers without compromising the appearance or utility of the bedding. In addition, because the fastening means are concealed, a safe and comfortable connection is provided for the user.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the top cover is a pillow sham and the bottom cover is a pillow case. In an alternative embodiment, a kit could include a pillow covering system in addition to a bed mattress covering system. A kit may include additional bed coverings and/or dressings such as a fitted sheet and/or a bed ruffle.

In one embodiment, a teaching method including a bed covering. system as herein described is provided. The teaching system could be used, for example, to teach children how to make a bed. The matching of the bed covering components provides additional teaching opportunities, such as to learn color and pattern matching, and how to use different types of fasteners, such as using zippers, ties, buttons, and so on. Thus, in one embodiment, the bedding system may be used as a teaching device whereby even small children can be taught to get in the habit of making their bed. A further advantage of this invention which may have particular benefit insofar as children are concerned is the covers do not become entangled during use, yet the covers do not hamper ones getting into out of bed.

In another aspect of the invention, a plurality of covers, such as a top, one or more middle covers, and a bottom cover may be interconnected by a plurality of fastening means halves. The interconnection of the covers is accomplished by connecting complementary fastening means halves, wherein complementary means that one half of a fastening means connects with another half of a fastening means, such as is the case for example when a button is complementary and fastens with a button hole. In one aspect, the invention comprises:

a plurality of covers and a plurality of fastening means interconnecting the plurality of covers wherein each one of the plurality of fastening means are separable into two complementary fastening means halves, and the plurality of covers comprises:

-   -   (a) a top cover having a top surface, a bottom surface, right,         left, top, and bottom edges, one or more folds on at least part.         of the top cover bottom surface, and at least one complementary         fastening means half attached to, and enclosed in, the one or         more folds     -   (b) one or more middle covers having a top surface, a bottom         surface, right, left, top, and bottom edges, one or more folds         on a least part of the top surface, one or more folds on at         least part of the bottom surface, at least one complementary         fastening means half attached to, and enclosed in, each of the         one or more folds on the top surface and at least one         complementary fastening means half attached to, and enclosed in,         the one or more folds on the bottom surface;     -   (e) a bottom Cover having a top surface, a bottom surface,         right, left, top, and bottom edges, one or more folds on at         least part of the bottom cover top surface, and, and at least         one complementary fastening means half attached to, and enclosed         in, the one or more folds.

In one embodiment, at least one of the one or more folds of the top cover, the one or more folds of the one or more middle covers, and the one or more folds of the bottom COVET is adapted such that the complementary fastening means half attached to the respective cover is concealable when it is connected to another complementary fastening means half of another cover. Thus, when a complementary fastening means half attached to and enclosed in a fold in one cover is connected with another complementary fastening means half attached to and enclosed in a fold in another cover, the connected fastening means may be concealed, such as by one or both of the folds of the covers. Alternatively, a different means of concealing, the connected fastening, means half may be provided, such as, for example, another fold or fabric flap, to conceal the fastening means.

In one embodiment, the plurality of fastening means are the same type. In another embodiment, the plurality of fastening means type is at least two different types. By different types is meant, for example, that one fastening, means would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to be different from another type. For example, different types of fastening means are button/button hole sets, snap sets, hook and loop sets, zippers, and ties.

In a further embodiment, complementary fastening means halves are color coordinated, that is to say that each half of a fastening means that will connect with another half of a fastening means are marked with the same color, which may be the same or different from the marked color of another two complementary halves of a different, fastening means type. Marking with a color could include marking only a portion of the fastening means half.

In certain embodiments, one or more of the folds of the top, middle and bottom covers have a design and/or color marking that indicates which of the plurality of covers has a complementary fastening means half that will connect with another complementary fastening means half on another one of the plurality of covers. The design and/or color marking on the fold simplifies the task of matching interconnecting covers because it is a guide to which fastening means halves will interconnect.

In another embodiment, the plurality of covers interconnect only when certain complementary fastening means halves are joined together with certain other complementary fastening means halves. This embodiment insures that the bed covers are assembled in the proper orientation. That is, for example, if the intended bed covering orientation is for the top cover to be a decorative bedspread, the middle cover a blanket, and the bottom a sheet, then the middle cover complementary fastening means halves are such that only the decorative cover will interconnect with the blanket beneath it, and only the flat sheet will interconnect with the blanket above it. Of course, variations of this arrangement would be within the scope of the invention. For example, a complementary fastening means half on the top of one cover, such as the sheet, may permit attachment of a decorative cover, or alternatively, a blanket with a decorative cover. However, in some embodiments, the bottom cover complementary fastening means half may not permit it to be attached to the top of a plurality of bed coverings.

In another aspect of the invention, the fastening means of the bed covering system is not concealed within a fold. In one embodiment, a concealment method other than a fold, such as a fabric flap, may be used. In other embodiments, at least one of the fasteners are not concealed. In certain embodiments, none of the fasteners are concealed. in certain embodiments, the fasteners are attached around the perimeter of the bed coverings, including at least one fastener on each one of the right, left, top and bottom edges. In other embodiments, fasteners are attached to less than the entire perimeter, such as at the bottom, left and right edges, or at the left and right edges.

According to one aspect, the invention is a bed covering system including:

a top cover having a top surface, a bottom surface, right, left, top and bottom edges;

a bottom cover having a top surface, a bottom surface, right, left, top and bottom edges; and

-   -   at least one fastening means comprising a first fastener part         and a second fastener part, wherein the first fastener part is         attached to at least one edge of the bottom surface of the top         cover, the second fastener part is attached to at least one edge         of the top surface of the bottom cover, and the first and second         fastener part detachably connect the top cover to the bottom         cover.

Some of the features and advantages of the bed covering system herein described are as follows:

-   (1) The folds in the bedding layers (both comforter and flat sheet)     for concealing buttons, buttonholes, hooks, other attachment devices     provide for a finished and esthetic appearance; -   (2) The concealment of the fasteners provides a safety factor     concerning children (preventing biting off buttons etc). -   (3) This design also allows use of the comforter with the bedding     system or without and using the flat sheet separately and     unattached, wherein buttons, button holes or hooks etc would be     concealed and would not take away from the comforter design appeal     nor that of the sheet. -   (4) This system is very practical because it does not impede or     hamper ones getting in and out of bed and ill prevent an     entanglement when M use. -   (5) This system can be used on any bed including bunk beds or     sleeping device and anywhere where one sleeps, such as in motor     homes, campers, tents, etc. Because of the design, the system can be     used anywhere and is not restricted to use only in connection with a     bed or box spring and mattress or all three. -   (6) This design will be especially useful for beds where access is     limited when making the bed i.e. bunk beds or beds that are     stationary against the all Since the sheet is attached to the     comforter there is no tucking in of the flat sheet required and     access to the mattress and box spring is not required. -   (7) It's easy and practical to launder the components of the bedding     system that would require more frequent laundering such as sheets     and pillowcases without requiring other pieces such as blankets,     comforters and pillow shams to be laundered at the same time. -   (8) This design allows the bed to be made up quickly after use and     is so simple it allows even very young users to be able to make up     the bed themselves. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A bed covering system comprising: a top cover having a top surface, a bottom surface, right, left, top and bottom edges, and at least one fold on at least part of the bottom surface; a bottom cover having a top surface, a bottom surface, right, left, top and bottom edges, and at least one told on at least part of the bottom cover top surface a fastening means comprising a first, fastener part and a second fastener part wherein the first fastener part is attached to and concealed in the at least one fold of the top cover, the second fastener part is attached to and concealed in the at least One fold of the bottom cover, and the first and second fastener part detachably connect the top cover to the bottom cover.
 2. The bed covering system of claim 1, wherein the to cover is a comforter and the bottom cover is a flat sheet, or the bottom cover is a comforter and the top cover is a flat sheet.
 3. The bed covering system of claim 1, wherein the top cover and bottom cover are dimensioned to fit a bed mattress.
 4. The bed covering system of claim 1, comprising a pillow covering system wherein the top cover is a pillow sham and the bottom cover is a pillow case.
 5. The bed covering system of claim 1, wherein the top cover or the bottom cover is a quilt, blanket, or sleeping bag.
 6. The bed covering system of claim 1, wherein the first fastener part is a button, and the second fastener part is a button hole.
 7. The bed covering system of claim 1, wherein the fastening means comprises one or more hook and loop sets, hook and eye sets, snap sets, ties, or zippers.
 8. The bed covering system of claim 1, wherein one or both of the at least one fold of the top cover and the at least one fold of the bottom cover are configured such that the fastening means is concealable when the first and second fastener part are connected.
 9. A teaching method comprising the bed covering system of claim
 1. 10. A kit comprising the bed covering system according to claim
 1. 11. A bed covering system comprising: a plurality of covers and a plurality of fastening means interconnecting the plurality of covers , wherein each one of the plurality of fastening means are separable into two complementary fastening means halves, and the plurality of covers comprises: (a) a top Cover having a top surface, a bottom surface, right, left, top, and bottom edges, one or more folds on at least part of the top cover bottom surface, and at least one complementary fastening means half attached to and enclosed in the one or More folds (b) one or more middle covers having a top surface, a bottom surface, right, left, top, and bottom edges, one or more folds on a least part of the top surface, one or more folds on at least part of the bottom surface, at least one complementary fastening means half attached to and enclosed in each of the one or more folds on the top surface and at least one complementary fastening means half attached to and enclosed in the one or more folds on the bottom surface; (c) a bottom cover having a top surface, a bottom surface, right, left, top, and bottom edges, one or more folds on at least part of the bottom cover top surface, and at least one complementary fastening means half attached to and enclosed in the one or more folds.
 12. The bed covering system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more folds of the top cover, the one or more folds of the one or more middle covers, and the one or more folds of the bottom cover is adapted such that the complementary fastening means half attached to the respective cover is concealable when it is connected to another complementary fastening means half of another cover.
 13. A teaching system comprising the bed covering system of claim
 11. 14. The bed covering, system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of fastening means are one fastening means type or are at least two different fastening means types.
 15. A teaching method comprising the bed covering system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of fastening means are one fastening means type.
 16. A teaching, method comprising, the bed covering system of claim
 14. wherein the plurality of fastening means are at least two different fastening means types.
 17. The bed covering system of claim 14, wherein, the complementary fastening means halves are color coordinated.
 18. The bed covering system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the one or more folds of the top, middle and bottom covers have a design or a color marking indicating which of the plurality of covers has a complementary fastening means half that will connect with another complementary fastening means half on another one of the plurality of covers.
 19. The bed covering system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of covers interconnect only when certain complementary fastening means halves are joined together with certain other complementary fastening means halves.
 20. A bed covering system comprising: a top cover having a to surface, a bottom surface, right, left, to and bottom edges; a bottom cover having a top surface, a bottom surface, right, left, top a Id bottom edges; and at least one fastening means comprising a first fastener part and a second fastener part, wherein the first fastener part is attached to at least one edge of the bottom surface of the top cover, the second fastener part is attached to at least one edge of the top surface of the bottom cover, and the first and second fastener part detachably connect the top cover to the bottom cover. 